This spring Cornell University's <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cornellsustainabilityhub/home">Sustainability Hub</a> unveiled their <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/cornellsustainabilityhub/news/big-red-bikes">Big Red Bikes</a> program. Like many bike share programs across the country, the project aims to make biking accessible, affordable, and convenient to the casual commuter who may not be familiar with bike maintenance or may feel intimidated about purchasing their own bike. As the cold Ithaca winter encroaches, bikes are being moved into storage, but that has not stopped the student organization from continuing to advocate for additional funding in hopes of expanding the program in the coming years.

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Big Red Bikes

The bikes themselves are paid for by the Student Assembly who has allocated $1 of every student's annual activity fees to go toward the bike share program.

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Big Red Bikes

Each three gear bike costs about $500 including lights, helmet and lock. Remaining relatively local, Worksman Cycles are made in Queens, New York and assembled in Dryden, New York.

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Big Red Bikes

The bike-powered lights come from the Netherlands.

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Big Red Bikes

Big Red Bikes has created a rewards program to help deals with uneven bike distribution given Ithaca's steep topography.

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Big Red Bikes

Decisions about the bike share are made in a democratic manner. After sending out a survey, the organization decided that the second set of 20 bikes should have slightly wider handle bars and a basket.

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Big Red Bikes

The bikes stand out from standard models making it hard for anyone to get away with disguising one as their own.

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Big Red Bikes

This spring Cornell University's Sustainability Hub unveiled their Big Red Bikes program. Like many bike share programs across the country, the project aims to make biking accessible, affordable, and convenient to the casual commuter who may not be familiar with bike maintenance or may feel intimidated about purchasing their own bike. As the cold Ithaca winter encroaches, bikes are being moved into storage, but that has not stopped the student organization from continuing to advocate for additional funding in hopes of expanding the program in the coming years.